When the Grindstone Fire began burning on Pilot Mountain in late November 2021, the Winston-Salem community watched in disbelief as one of North Carolina's most distinctive landmarks—a quartzite monadnock visible from miles away—was consumed by flames. Over a thousand acres burned. Dozens of firefighters fought the blaze for more than a week. And Jamie Bartholomaus, president and co-owner of Foothills Brewing, knew exactly what his brewery had to do: bring back its retired Pilot Mountain Pale Ale and put every bottle to work restoring the park.
"Watching Pilot Mountain burn hit us all very hard here at Foothills," Bartholomaus said in December 2021. "Pilot Mountain Pale Ale was one of our original beers here when we opened in 2005. The mountain is almost like a member of the Foothills family." He had retired the beer the year before to focus on newer brands. "But when the fire happened," he said, "I knew we needed to make it again to help restore one of North Carolina's greatest landmarks."[1]
The Grindstone Fire
The Grindstone Fire was discovered on the evening of Saturday, November 27, 2021, in Pilot Mountain State Park in Surry County, North Carolina. It was caused by an escaped campfire in an undesignated area.[2] Dry conditions and a lack of rainfall—November 2021 was the third driest on record, with minimal rainfall for weeks—made suppression difficult.[3] The fire burned for over a week until it was fully contained on December 4, 2021, having consumed approximately 1,050 acres, most of it within Pilot Mountain State Park.[2][4]
Pilot Mountain State Park draws over a million visitors each year. The iconic landmark, with its distinctive "Big Pinnacle" and "Little Pinnacle" rock formations, is a defining feature of the North Carolina Piedmont skyline. The fire devastated the park's landscape and left a trail of restoration work ahead.
The Un-Retirement
Foothills Brewing announced in late December 2021 that it would "un-retire" Pilot Mountain Pale Ale. The beer would be released early in 2022 in 12-packs of 12-oz. bottles. A portion of proceeds from each case sold would go to the Friends of Sauratown Mountains, a state-sanctioned 501(c)(3) organization formed in 2010 to preserve and protect the Sauratown Mountains for future generations. The nonprofit supports both Pilot Mountain State Park and Hanging Rock State Park, offering volunteer opportunities and ongoing restoration projects.[1][5]
Each box of Pilot Mountain Pale Ale included a QR code linking to a website where customers could make additional donations for Pilot Mountain restoration.[1] "We are excited to partner with Foothills Brewing as they bring back their popular Pilot Mountain Pale Ale," said Debbie Vaden, President of Friends of Sauratown Mountains, at the time. "The proceeds they donate will be beneficial in helping us restore areas damaged by the Pilot Mountain Grindstone fire. Support like this from our community means so much and will go a long way in helping us return beauty and splendor to Pilot Mountain."[1]
Community Response
The move resonated beyond Winston-Salem. "The Pilot Mountain community extends beyond our great town near the base of our namesake landmark," said Pilot Mountain Mayor Evan Cockerham. "This wildfire has shown us that we belong to a community that goes far beyond those boundaries. We are grateful for the support we have received across the nation and we welcome Foothills Brewing's contributions to the restoration of our State Park."[1]
Foothills Brewing, founded in 2005, has grown into one of the Southeast's most respected craft breweries. The brewery has been ranked among RateBeer's 100 best breweries in the world and has won nine Great American Beer Festival medals and three World Beer Cup medals.[1] Under Bartholomaus's leadership, Foothills grew from an initial output of about 800 barrels in 2005 to approaching 40,000 barrels annually, transforming into a multimillion-dollar regional operation.[6]
Pilot Mountain Pale Ale: The Beer
Pilot Mountain Pale Ale was one of Foothills' original beers when the company opened in 2005. An American Pale Ale, it typically clocks in around 5.5% ABV and has earned a solid reputation among craft beer drinkers.[7] After the un-retirement in early 2022, the beer proved so popular—and the cause so meaningful—that it was restored to Foothills' year-round lineup. Today, Pilot Mountain Pale Ale remains a core brand, available in bottles and on draft across the brewery's distribution footprint.[8]
Friends of Sauratown Mountains and Ongoing Restoration
Friends of Sauratown Mountains continues to support Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Parks through volunteer work, trail improvements, and fundraising. In 2022, the organization helped create a specialty North Carolina license plate featuring Pilot Mountain to generate ongoing funding for the park. The plate, which reads "Pilot Mountain National Landmark," became available through the NC DMV in 2023.[9]
The organization's mission—preserving and protecting the Sauratown Mountains for future generations—aligns with the spirit of Foothills' Pilot Mountain Pale Ale campaign: a beer named for a landmark, brewed to help that landmark heal.
Where to Find Pilot Mountain Pale Ale
Pilot Mountain Pale Ale is available year-round at Foothills Brewing's Winston-Salem taproom and brewery, as well as in retail locations across North Carolina and the Southeast. Check Foothills Brewing for the latest availability and distribution. For those who want to support Pilot Mountain restoration directly, Friends of Sauratown Mountains accepts donations and membership applications on their website.
Sources
- Yes Weekly — "Foothills Brewing To 'Un-Retire' Pilot Mountain Pale Ale To Help Restore Iconic Landmark," December 28, 2021; Jamie Bartholomaus quotes, Mayor Evan Cockerham, Debbie Vaden, release details, QR code
- News & Observer — Grindstone Fire cause (escaped campfire), discovery date, acreage
- The Stokes News — Dry conditions, November 2021 rainfall
- WBTV — Fire fully contained December 4, 2021
- Friends of Sauratown Mountains — 501(c)(3) nonprofit, formed 2010, supports Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Parks
- Foothills Brewing – Jamie Bartholomaus — President, brewery growth, 800 to ~40,000 barrels
- BeerAdvocate — Pilot Mountain Pale Ale 5.5% ABV
- Brewbound — Pilot Mountain Pale Ale year-round
- Truliant Foundation — Pilot Mountain license plate, NC DMV 2023
- Foothills Brewing – In the News — WFMY, Yes Weekly coverage links
- WFMY News 2 — "Foothills Brings Back Pilot Mountain Pale Ale," December 30, 2021